The Thompson Brothers bought their arms on an entire collection of Islay single malt casks from an undisclosed distillery. At present we’re attempting 5 casks, with spirit distilled in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. Some of the different casks from this batch have appeared right here earlier than.
Laphroaig, I hear you whisper? Sure, that might be our guess too, particularly when you have a look at the hints on the final bottle. All of those casks are mentioned to be mixing inventory from Allied Distillers.
Islay Single Malt 30 yo 1990 (49%, Thompson Bros 2021 for The Nectar fifteenth Anniversary, refill barrel, 250 btl.)
Nostril: it’s not possible to not like these casks. This can be a heat, positive nostril with light, medicinal smoke, a superb dose of vanilla cake and almonds, hints of plaster, sunflower oil and seaweed. Clean smoky notes, in addition to evenly tropical fruits (roasted pineapple and banana), spearmint and dusty materials.
Mouth: actually oily and waxy, with a barely greater smoky fingerprint, balanced wooden spice and medicinal notes. Seashells. Hints of apple, apricot and vanilla. Lime and lemon. Then again to charred oak, with a natural sharpness because it fades.
End: fairly lengthy, on sweetened natural tea, citrusy and salty peat, black peppercorns, gentle floral notes and cardamom.
Nice begin of this session, this can be a superb benchmark. Completely as anticipated: a really mature, refined and rounded Islay character. Glorious steadiness between the peaty core and fruity waves.
Islay Single Malt 31 yo 1990 (49,3%, Thompson Bros 2021, two refill barrels, 464 btl.)
Nostril: begins rather less waxy, extra on peppery spice and leather-based. Salty air with a light-weight prickle. Nonetheless some vanilla, however the citrus fruits and medicinal notes spike above it. Iodine. Hints of peach within the background.
Mouth: the same impression. It’s far more citrusy, with lemons and seabreeze, in addition to extra distinguished antiseptics. A lightweight grassy contact earlier than it turns in direction of pear and peach. Extra ‘vertically peated’, displaying little smoky heat this time. It feels just a bit youthful than the earlier bottling.
End: a bit longer now, nonetheless specializing in natural and coastal parts.
Additionally superb, albeit a tad sharper and medicinal, missing among the roundness and waxy character that I like in these outdated Laphroaigs. The least expressive of this collection, was that the rationale for combining two casks? Rating: 89/100
Subsequent up is a bottling unique to HNWS (Dwelling Want Wine&Spirit), a Taiwanese store and unbiased bottler owned by Tony Qiu.
Islay Single Malt 30 yo 1991 (50,2%, Thompson Bros for HNWS Taiwan 2021, refill barrel)
Nostril: extra fruits once more – acidic varieties like inexperienced apple, lime and unripe pineapple. Vibrant however a bit greener. Fruit tea. Skinny smoke once more, hints of hay, spearmint and eucalyptus. Natural ointments. At all times a little bit of vanilla too.
Mouth: actually good, with a creamy character, waxy notes and polished oak, but additionally a pleasant trace of roast mocha and crushed peppercorns. Behind that is that citrusy high observe (lime) and a inexperienced however nearly tropical fruitiness.
End: lengthy, nonetheless displaying this vivid and vibrant citrusy facet, with waxy notes and pepper.
Definitely on the identical stage because the Nectar bottling, with the same steadiness between coastal Islay notes and the rounder, polished hints of age. Presumably the best complexity of all of them. Rating: 91/100
Unknown Islay Single Malt 31 yo 1989 (52,1%, Thompson Bros for Kirsch Import, 250 btl.)
Nostril: rapeseed and plasticine stand out now, alongside oak polish and marzipan. Extra floral smoke, mingling with natural teas, sage, plain brine and mussel shells on the seashore. Extra kippery notes too. General extra coastal once more, with the fruity notes (pears) in second row.
Mouth: vibrant zesty citrus, with an even bigger salty observe once more. Brilliant citrus within the center, principally (pink) grapefruit now. Additionally mango. It appears to have a (barbecued) meaty trace earlier than it turns to gentian, olive brine, inexperienced herbs, leather-based sure books and ample sea minerals.
End: lengthy, with resinous notes, seared lemons and barely bitter natural notes.
I’ve mentioned this earlier than, however I believe juxtaposing so many comparable drams makes you exaggerate the variations and stretch the scores additional aside. As a result of discovering variations is the purpose of evaluating them, proper? This one is extremely coastal but additionally manages to squeeze a number of citrus fruits. Rating: 90/100
In case you had been nonetheless on the lookout for affirmation for the identify Laphroaig, the subsequent WhiskySponge bottling has greater than sufficient clues, together with an image of Wessie Billiamson, the point out Marcelect Particular (referring to Marcel Van Gils) and the Dutch phrase De mooie inham bij de brede baai which interprets as ‘the gorgeous hole by the broad bay’. Then again it does include a couple of deceptive parts like Port Ellen’s basis date and the Ardbeg constructing…
Islay Single Malt 28 yo 1992 (52,5%, WhiskySponge ‘Marcelect Particular’ 2021, two refill barrels, 518 btl.)
Nostril: some extent of fruits, now primarily ripe banana and inexperienced mango, however extra on coal smoke (making it appear youthful) and maritime notes once more. Dried seaweed. Ashy notes with hints of walnuts, pine liqueur and a mossy trace within the again.
Mouth: sweeter, creamier and fairly fruity. Candy lemons and vivid oranges. Hints of honey and light-weight pineapple. A transparent bourbonny footprint. Mild peat, herbs and briney notes displaying up in direction of the top. Maybe somewhat less complicated now than the others, though it is also the stronger warmth.
End: lengthy, with maritime smoke, zesty notes and natural tea.
I actually like these casks, they’re such a secure wager. They’re intently collectively and the variations come down to private preferences. Like, would you like extra fruits or extra coastal Islay character? This one is actually good however not the fruitiest. Rating: 89/100
